Auston Matthews scored 58 seconds into overtime Thursday night and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the visiting New York Rangers 2-1.
The Rangers had control of play for the first 50 seconds of the overtime period, then Matthews scored his team-leading fourth goal on a 2-on-1 break with William Nylander.
It was the second straight win for the Maple Leafs, who along with the Rangers played their first overtime game this season.
Matthew Knies also scored, though goaltender Anthony Stolarz was the difference for Toronto, making 28 saves.
Juuso Parssinen scored for the goal-challenged Rangers, who had been shut out in their two previous games. Igor Shesterkin stopped 22 shots for New York.
The Maple Leafs scored their first power-play goal of the season at 11:48 of the first period. Knies scored on a deflection after Nylander’s pass to the crease bounced off Shesterkin’s blocker. Will Cuylle was serving a hooking penalty as the Rangers allowed their first power-play goal this season.
Each team had two power plays in the first period.
The Rangers, who have been shut out in their first three home games this season, had plenty of chances in the first period but could not convert. Stolarz was a factor with some sharp goaltending.
The second period started in similar fashion for the Rangers before the game developed into a defensive struggle.
New York had only one shot on goal on its power play in the second. Soon after, Stolarz foiled Sam Carrick at the end of a 3-on-1 rush at 16:53.
The Rangers tied it in the third when Parssinen scored his first of the campaign at 4:51 on a tip-in from Braden Schneider’s shot from the point.
Late in the third, Stolarz made a save after his mask had popped off as the Rangers kept the Maple Leafs bottled up in their own zone.
–Field Level Media
